Joan Rivers Mourned By Melissa Rivers, Fans, And Celebrities – Except Oscar Execs, Who Defend Snub [Video]

Joan Rivers became a legend as a female comedienne with such a wicked sense of humor that she sometimes cracked up before she could deliver her punch line. She turned the red carpet into an occasion for celebrating the best and the worst of fashion, and even appeared in cameos on movies. After her death, she was mourned by everyone from daughter Melissa Rivers to her enormous circle of fans and celebrity friends – all of whom were shocked when Joan was left off the Academy Awards In Memoriam segment, reported Vanity Fair.

Responding to the Twitter uproar when Joan was snubbed, the Academy provided a statement defending its decision to exclude a woman who had regularly appeared at Oscar red carpet events as well as in films such as Spaceballs and The Muppets Take Manhattan.

“Joan Rivers is among the many worthy artists and filmmakers we were unfortunately unable to feature in the In Memoriam segment of this year’s Oscar show. She is, however, included in our In Memoriam gallery on Oscar.com.”

The segment celebrating the lives of those who had passed in the last year lasted under four minutes. In contrast, more than 120 celebrities who contributed to the entertainment industry are included in that galley to honor them.

So the question, then, is why Joan was not viewed as having contributed a sufficient amount to be honored during the Academy Awards show itself?

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Rivers may have answered the question herself when she discussed her frustration that those in the entertainment industry, as well as her fans, viewed her as a comedienne rather than as an actress.

“My career is as an actress. I am an actress playing a comedienne. It’s over, it’s over…. No one will ever take me seriously as an actress.”

But daughter Melissa is making it clear that she took her mother’s talents very seriously, reported ABC News.

“It would have been nice, especially considering the impact she had on the awards season,” said Melissa of the omission. “But Cooper and I have been overwhelmed with support and love over my mom’s passing and we choose to focus on that.”

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As the Inquisitr reported, it was Melissa who made the heart-breaking decision to turn off her mother’s life support in the hospital room where she lay without response.

The two were more than mother and daughter. They were best friends, work colleagues and their own support system. Melissa’s eulogy revealed her feelings.

“I know you are a true creative genius (and I am in awe of the depth of your instincts),” wrote Melissa. ” I love having you live with me, and I am grateful for every minute Cooper and I have with you. You are an inspiration.”

[Photo By Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images]